Understanding shading is one of the most important skills for any artist. Whether you're drawing comics, illustrations, or digital art, mastering shading techniques will help you create depth, dimension, and realism.
In this tutorial, we’ll explain everything you need to know about shading—not just how to shade but how light and shadow interact to bring your artwork to life—specifically in vintage styles, including comics, cartoons, and illustration.
📕 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO
✅ How light and shadow define form and depth
✅ How to identify and use a light source in your shading
✅ The best techniques for achieving realistic and dynamic contrast
✅ How to shade your drawings using hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, and halftones.
✅ The meaning of shading in art and how different lighting conditions affect your shadows
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📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS
✔️ Shading is the bridge between light and shadow—understanding it improves depth and contrast
✔️ Knowledge of light and shadow affects realism and mood
✔️ Cartoon shading vs. realistic shading—knowing when to simplify or refine shadows
✔️ Different shading techniques can create texture, drama, and vintage effects
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🖌 TOOLS & BRUSHES USED
Inferno Ink - Great for general inking and blocking of shadows, and can be used for hatching and cross-hatching.
https://www.retrosupply.co/collections/inferno-ink
Dot Dreams Stippling Brushes – Easy stippling shading for comics, cartoons, and illustrations.
https://www.retrosupply.co/collections/dot-dreams-stippling-brushes
DupliTone Halftone Shading Brushes – Authentic vintage halftone shading effects
https://www.retrosupply.co/collections/duplitone
💡Pro Tip: The key to great shading is first identifying your light source. Strong light creates deep shadows, while soft light results in gradual shading transitions.
💬 QUESTION: What’s your go-to shading technique? Drop a comment below! 👇
👍 If you enjoyed this tutorial, hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more in-depth art tips!
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Tip 01 - Understanding Light
01:44 Core Shadow and Cast Shadow
01:57 Achieving Comic Style Shading
03:25 Tip 02 - Study and Modify Forms
04:39 Building Complex Forms from Simple Shapes
05:00 Tip 03 - Shading Brushes
07:25 The Right Way to Approach Hatching
08:58 Tip 04 - Shadow & Mood
09:45 Tip 05 - Using Negative Space
10:57 Black Spotting
11:15 Putting it All Together
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RetroSupply Co. is a leading provider of brushes, textures, fonts, and digital tools for designers and artists.
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Video and art by Matt Tower. Follow him on Instagram: / royland.art